The Nature Conservancy is one of the world’s largest conservation organisations, with over 4,000 global staff and 1,000 scientists working across 81 countries. Dr Anjali Acharya, Managing Director, Nature Conservancy India Solutions, says that the organisation’s work in India centres on freshwater conservation, priority landscapes, renewable energy, regenerative agriculture and natural climate solutions, and notes that these pillars align fully with India’s environmental priorities.
Natural Climate Solutions
She mentions that natural climate solutions are key pillars, where efforts include mangrove restoration in the Sundarbans and work in blue carbon ecosystems such as mangroves and salt marshes. Dr Acharya adds that this aligns with India’s MISHTI scheme and its updated nationally determined contributions, which include commitments to enhance forest cover, particularly mangroves.
Mangrove Work & Global Mangrove Alliance
Dr Acharya emphasises that mangroves are often referred to as “forests of the sea” and cites a quotation, “Mangroves are guardians of the coast, the silent and quiet sentinels that shield life from the storm.” She adds that the organisation works with communities and governments on restoration, resilience building and awareness, including a 160-hectare restoration plot in the Sundarbans with women’s self-help groups. She explains that the Global Mangrove Alliance is a coalition including TNC, WWF, Wetlands International and IUCN, aiming to increase global mangrove cover by 20% by 2030, and she reports that TNC has joined the new India chapter to co-draft a national strategy.
India’s Standing Globally
She notes that India host about 3% of the world’s mangroves—around 5,000 sq km—mainly in West Bengal, Gujarat and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. She reports that global scientific assessments indicate half of all mangrove ecosystems are at risk, driven by climate change, sea-level rise, storms and land conversion, and she states that India faces similar pressures. Dr Acharya points out that shrimp aquaculture, sea-level rise, cyclones, coastal development and pollution are identified as major threats. She adds that India is responding strongly through programmes such as MISHTI, which aims to restore 540 sq km of mangroves by 2028 with funding aligned to Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) and MNREGA.
Nature-Based vs Technological Solutions
She states that India’s traditional dependence on grey infrastructure is contrasted with the reported advantages of nature-based solutions. According to her, mangrove restoration performs better than seawalls by absorbing storm surges, reducing wave height and self-repairing. Mangroves sequester four times more carbon per hectare than tropical forests and supporting thousands of species, unlike grey infrastructure, which is linked to emissions and habitat fragmentation. Dr Acharya says the preferred approach is a hybrid model with mangroves as the first defence.
Contribution to SDGs
She reports that mangroves contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on climate action, life below water, sustainable cities and life on land. She adds that India’s policies—National Adaptation Fund, Green India Mission, MISHTI and the Coastal Regulation Zone—are supportive but in need of further alignment, clearer tenure, co-management structures and improved financing. Dr Acharya highlights that blended finance, blue carbon markets, ecosystem-service payments, green bonds and community carbon projects are all emerging opportunities.
Barriers at Scale
The Nature Conservancy estimates that $17 billion per year in flood protection benefits alone can be derived from mangroves in some of the studied regions. She says India can draw on global lessons in market finance, carbon credits and integrated planning. She explains that institutional overlap, lack of blue carbon credit mechanisms, insecure land rights and insufficient monitoring are key barriers, along with the absence of a national map of restoration-ready sites. Dr Acharya adds that TNC India developing a geo-lab to map species and suitability in collaboration with government bodies.
Engaging Communities & Youth
She states that community and youth engagement is essential, with emphasis on awareness, education, capacity building and livelihoods. Dr Acharya notes that ideas should focus on youth mangrove champion networks, vocational training in nursery management and GIS mapping, carbon sampling modules, field schools, learning hubs, citizen science apps and eco-entrepreneurship involving honey, crafts and nature tourism. She adds that cultural activities, festivals, street plays and social-media content are powerful tools for wider youth involvement.
